Dairy farmers used high magnesium concentrates as a method of choice to increase dietary magnesium concentrations. High magnesium blocks were used to a limited extent, with other methods only occasionally used. Those dairy farmers who were using any method of supplementation at the time of sampling (95 per cent adequate, 4 per cent marginal and 1 per cent deficient, total number 1534) and, in particular, high magnesium concentrates only (96 per cent adequate, 3 per cent marginal and 1 per cent deficient, total number 977), had fewer hypomagnesaemic animals (P<0 05 and P<0 005, respectively) compared to those herds that were not supplemented at the time of sampling (92 per cent adequate, 7 per cent marginal and 1 per cent deficient, total number 1038).Suckler farmers used high magnesium blocks as the method of choice to increase dietary magnesium concentrations. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of hypomagnesaemia in suckler herds between those that were supplemented and those that were not at the time of sampling. In fact, those suckler herds who used magnesium blocks as the only means of supplementation at the time of sampling (70 per cent adequate, 22 per cent marginal and 8 per cent deficient, total number 1231) had significantly more hypomagnesaemic animals (P<0005) than those that used no supplementation at the time of sampling (74 per cent adequate, 20 per cent marginal and 6 per cent deficient, total number 2347). McCoy and others (1994) concluded that there is likely to be considerable variation in the effectiveness of commercially available blocks. The results presented here question the efficacy of high magnesium blocks as a means of preventing hypomagnesaemia. However, practicalities may dictate that this method of magnesium supplementation may be the only option open to suckler farmers. Other methods (magnesium shaken over silage or meal, high magnesium concentrates, molassed magnesium) were used only to a limited extent.There were major differences in methods used between small (<20 cows), medium (21 to 40 cows) and large (>40 cows) herds in both dairy and suckler farms (Fig 3). The use of pasture dusting increased and high magnesium blocks decreased with increasing herd size in dairy herds. As the herd size increased in suckler herds, so did the use of high magnesium concentrates.In conclusion, the incidence of hypomagnesaemia remains high in Northem Ireland despite year to year variations. The sudden change to inclement weather appears to precipitate large increases in the number of hypomagnesaemic animals and presumably clinical tetany. There is an urgent need for further work to be carried out on effective and practical magnesium supplementation measures. Their interaction with other factors which play an important role in the aetiology of hypomagnesaemia and clinical tetany (for example, stress, weather changes, nitrogen and potash fertiliser inputs, etc) also needs further consideration.